Westwind Rabbitry

My first litter is 3 weeks old and I've got a doe, Charlene, due in a few days -- feels like there's only one in there though.  Took me a while to get her bred and to only have one is kind of frustrating.  We're hoping to get lights in the barn soon, but Manda's got bred does coming next month and cage space is pretty short ... so lights are getting moved a little farther down the priority list.  Fortunately, spring is coming and more daylight hours will help get does to settle. 

I've got a first time doe I want to breed her as soon as Charlene kindles.  She seems a little more interested than Manda's doe that's refusing to have anything to do with a buck.  Again, I know lights would help as they would trick her into thinking it was already spring and nature would take it's course. 

This "not breeding" thing is new to us as we've always had lights in our barns and, in the past, could keep them on to "fool" the does.  When you want to keep does cycling and babies in the nest box, does that won't settle can really clog up the flow of things.

I've heard folks talk about breeding based on the phases of the moom.  Not sure it would help in situations like this but the say it helps in predicting whether your litters have more bucks or does.  As the moon effects a lot of chemical changes in the body, I can't discount the theory.  As with many things, there may be scientific proof one day.  If you're interested in breeding by the phases of the moon, check out this link:  Rabbit Breeding by Moon Phases.

Until next time ...

Brightest Blessings

Debi <><